This is me...out of the loop.

I missed the end of the last movie thread (must. visit. more. often.) and I don't actually have a tv, so all my news comes from the 'net and well...Buffistas! Never saw the SciFi promos, which might have given me a whiff of fraud.

I think my 'sheesh' meter is calibrated so high, I don't doubt anyone who says they want/intend to trash someone else, regardless of the veracity of their claims.

I wasn't thinking anything about the 'sekrit', only that someone wanting to make a buck would be willing to exploit a successful person. The fact that M. was involved just makes me sad. Bad Choices.

And Sean--not feeling picked on.

Loved the reminder about Se7en. It's been so long, I might not have remembered that there was very little actual violence but I do remember commenting on how effective it was that they didn't show the head in the box. Genius.

I ALSO remember the knife with all the edges and curves that they claimed the one victim had been raped with. That was enough for me.

It really is great filmmaking when things are left to our imaginations. Martin Scorcese talks about it in my favorite documentary ever...A Personal Journey Through American Movies. There is a scene with Kirk Douglas where he plays a movie producer trying to make a big hit. He points out that there is nothing scarier than what we think is in the dark.

Se7en really played on that.

The thing that bugged me about Se7en was that it was so good. No really - the acting was good, the directing was good, the writing was good, the art direction was good, the editing was good. Everything was amazing. For THAT subject matter. All this talent to make something disturbing.

I've never seen Se7en all the way through. I watched it on tape at some people's house until the movie got up to gluttony and then I had to go in the other room.

It was just too disturbing for me.

What did Peter Jackson do that was like M Night?

eta: Oh, whitefont. Still -- what were the details?

I liked Se7en, right up until the end, even though I had to hide my eyes a little bit, but I thought Pitt's acting in the last scene was bad.

People have told me I am wrong, but I still think so.

They really never show the head? Since I saw it in the theater, I think I've only seen it on TNT, where I figured they had edited it out. Huh.

So I can see why Blade Runner is such a seminal sci-fi flick, at least in terms of design. Cause basically every sci-fi movie after 1982 looks like 2019 L.A., huh? The Fifth Element came most strongly to mind. As for the story itself, I felt rather McGuffined. I lost track of why anything was going on. And I thought the Is He or Isn't He issue would be a bigger deal, but it's never even addressed overtly. It's one of those movies that makes the audience do all the work in making the concept profound. I don't need answers, but can't you at least ask the questions? Perhaps I'm just not used to subtlety anymore. I did like it, mind you. Just wasn't what I expected.

In any case, I can appreciate White Zombie's "More Human Than Human" more now:

i am the nexus one
i want more life fucker i ain't done yeah

Then came Brazil. Which was fucking weird. And not just the dream sequences. It's a very different paranoid thriller. Here, too, I frequently lost track of what the hell was going on. It's weird how we're so critical of Hollywood blockbusters when they don't make sense but movies like this get a free pass. But I loved the look of everything (and the mini-Odessa steps sequence), and I thought the movie was going to end at like seven different places. I think it ends up being a lot richer and more meaningful than Blade Runner. I'm still mulling over what it all means. Especially cause all the terrorism and paperwork is far too relevant today.

So, good picks, Sean. Was your other one Princess Bride ? Cause I love that one without question.

I don't need answers, but can't you at least ask the questions?

"I've.... seen things.... you people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near Tannhauser gate.

"All those.... moments.... will be lost in time.... Like tears in rain.

"Time.... to die."

Here, too, I frequently lost track of what the hell was going on.

Brazil requires repeat viewings, I think. I had a hard time following it the first time I saw it. I think I still get new things out of repeat viewings.

So, good picks, Sean. Was your other one Princess Bride ? Cause I love that one without question.

Princess Bride is up there. I forget what my list was at the time. I'd have to check the last thread.

The obligitory Blade Runner question: Which version did you watch? The original theatrical release, or the director's cut?